Assistant Press Officer

The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose is to recognise, promote and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. The Society has played a part in some of the most fundamental, significant and life-changing discoveries in scientific history and Royal Society scientists continue to make outstanding contributions to science across the wide breadth of research areas.

The Assistant Press Officer supports the smooth running of the Royal Society’s media relations team, providing support on selected areas of the Royal Society’s communications activities, acting as a first point of call for media enquiries, and offering administrative support to the press team. The role is also responsible for the weekly promotion of the Royal Society’s journals to the media.

Reports to: Senior Press Officer

Line manages: n/a

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week (some occasional work outside standard office required)

Location: 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London

Contract: Permanent

Pay band: C

Salary: £33,000 per annum

Application closing date: 14 October 2026 at 23:59

Interview dates: 22 October to 23 October 2026.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• Being the first point of call for reactive media enquiries and helping the team as required in answering those media enquiries
• Managing the promotion of the Society’s weekly journals; reviewing scientific papers, identifying the research most likely to attract media interest, distilling a selection of papers into clear and compelling news angles for journalists; drafting the press release, updating the e-press site, and responding to journalist enquiries
• To take the lead on allocated communications relations projects and deliver them. This can include fact finding/briefing calls with scientists and pitching story ideas to journalists.
• Ensuring the smooth operation of the media relations team’s administrative processes, media monitoring and evaluation functions, and the promotion of the Royal Society’s journals to media.
• Ensuring that the Society’s contact database of journalists is up to date and fully operational
• Analysing coverage and compiling informative, insightful weekly news updates and project coverage reports
• Providing support and/or lead on specified areas of the Royal Society’s work, with the guidance and direction of other members of the media relations team
• Research for, draft and issue press releases and news announcements, uploading them to our website or sending via our media database service
• To assist with preparations and delivery for press briefings and events, which may include work outside of core hours
• To assist members of the press team and wider communications team with other tasks as necessary, including research relating to upcoming projects or team priorities

Key Knowledge and Skills Required

Essential

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent – the Society will consider any background, provided you meet the other essential criteria
• Awareness of and interest in science and topical science issues
• Able to understand complex scientific research and communicate it in an accessible and engaging way
• Understanding of news values and interest in news media and current affairs
• High level of organisational skills
• Ability to undertake tasks with a ‘can-do’ attitude
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills
• Good IT skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office or equivalent

Desirable

Experience of working in an office environment: knowledge of office systems and procedures

Competencies

Self-management

• Works unsupervised and can motivate self
• Produces results under pressure
• Can manage in stressful situations
• Pushes for the best results
• Can be innovative and offer solutions and suggestions when not initially obvious
• Keen to be involved in organisational and corporate working groups informally or formally
• Can represent section on some duties
• Works within the Royal Society Values at all times

Working with others

• Contributes ideas and identifies opportunities to work with others both within the team and across the organisation
• Willing to provide and accept feedback to and from sectional colleagues when requested
• Produces succinct presentations and papers for senior colleagues, is a capable presenter and can explain topics and projects to a range of audiences
• Understands when to seek senior advice on a wide range of matters and act upon it.

Resource management

• Makes the best of internal/external resources and coordinates well with external partners to best meet the needs of the Society
• Builds contingency into projects taking into account possible outside factors
• Sets and monitors performance against quality and results orientated targets.
• Focuses on both short and long-term goals

Critical thinking

• Determines and clarifies the exact requirements of any situation
• Checks information for accuracy and raises concerns if information is inaccurate
• Extracts the key points succinctly, clearly and accurately
• Puts forward suggestions for improvement concerning current processes or systems
• Tries different ways of doing things to get the best results

Adaptability

• Overcomes obstacles and is not deterred by setbacks; checks assumptions and first principles and works out alternative approaches
• Reacts proactively to new challenges and works in a flexible manner to produce solutions
• Provides feedback and participates in discussions surrounding new ideas approaches or projects

Managing people and relationships

• Can delegates effectively if needed setting clear expectations and authority
• May line manage or supervise others
• Monitors results and feedback to own team on a regular basis constructively
• Recognises others’ contributions and acknowledges their strengths and limitations
• Helps others to identify ways to improve their performance and encourages learning from others in the team
• Prioritises supervisory responsibilities and carries them out in line with organisational policies
• Understands and can identify client/stakeholder/staff needs and looks for opportunities to improve their experiences